President Basescu undergoes surgery

The President of Romania Traian Basescu is to undergo surgery today in the Military Hospital, Bucharest because of a thyroid gland trouble. Whether it is cancer or not it will be found out afterwards. Nicolae Vacaroiu, a president of the Romanian senate, is taking over the President's attributions for the hours the latter will be under total anesthesia.
Autonomous knot on the right thyroid lobe, the President's disease, was detected last June. The surgery, which Presidency Administration describes as routine, is to be supervised by experts coming from three different hospitals, one of them the C.I. Parhon Endocrinology Institute.
Despite the calming information coming from Cotroceni Palace, specialists say things are not that certain. Apart from the risks involved in any surgery, they mention some form of cancer can't be out of question.
Cancer or hyperthyroidism ?
Since the press releases from Presidency Administration are so vague, Romanians are wondering what thyroid disease is President Basescu suffering from and why is the surgery necessary, since it isn't about cancer. The endocrinologists ZIUA has talked to have tackled it, starting from the very scarce information and medical clues leaking from Presidency Administration yesterday, with the latter institution trying to muffle the President's real state of health.
Civil society seems shocked to hear the news about the surgery President Basescu must absolutely undergo in a Romanian hospital, given the tragic denouement of the surgery performed on His Holiness the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The first press release from Cotroceni Palace used key-word to confuse public opinion. Endocrinologist Dan Peretianu, a Ph. D. in medical sciences, opines the use of a word such as "routine" next to "surgery" in the communique from Presidency "is misleading, inducing the idea there is no severe health problem". (...)
"Thyroid cancer is usually settled by surgery", doctor Peretianu explains. It is therefore a mystery why patient Basescu did not undergo a biopsy by modern means that exclude surgery. (...)

D.E.I. & S.A.
Ziua Sambata 8 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Prostitutes removed from Bucharest streets

Bucharest policemen have taken action to remove prostitutes from streets this autumn. The action is now in progress because most sanctions have proved inefficient. Christian Ciocan, a spokesman for Bucharest Police, explains that since the beginning of 2007 until now 2,666 prostitutes were fined and the state budget is to cash over 6 million RON.
Mediafax Agency informs there are 289 criminal cases on prostitution and another 289 against pimps. The spokesman explains: "Given the inefficiency of fines and sometimes of criminal cases, an action to fight such kind of crimes will be taken in Bucharest in September 1 - November 31, 2007".
The Police official says this is meant to drive prostitutes away from the streets of the city. He mentions that last year only about 30% of the prostitutes fined paid the fines. He comments: "These girls have actually got nothing: no properties and belongings. Their address is in fact in a different locality. Even if the fines reach these places, they aren't paid".
Dialogue with journalists
Bucharest Police took such action together on Thursday night and the prostitutes caught red-handed could talk to the journalists accompanying the policemen. The employees of Police Station 8 in Bucharest picked up 7 such prostitutes, after having caught 2 of them red-handed.
First they wouldn't talk to the press, but then some of them spoke up. A woman in her late twenties told us serenely: "I have 3 children, the oldest one is 8. I took up prostitution two years ago because I couldn't afford to buy them food, but I have got to like it". She told the police would catch her weekly and lately every day and she told she had a lot of fines to pay. "I go back anyway and they can pick me up again", she said.
Adriana is a 29-year-old go-between. She explained: "I have 6 or 7 girls to see to. I stop clients on the street, I tell them the prices and I get 10% for myself. I must earn a living somehow. I have a 4-year-old child to take care of". She added it was the only "job" she could manage to have.
Flori is 29 and her experience in the field is 3 years. She told journalists: "I have got a lot of fines to pay. I had a criminal case for prostitution and the court fined me. That fine is the only one I paid". She just added she hated her way or making a living. (...)

Adrian Ghiciusca
Ziua Sambata 8 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

We wish U...

Zangy Comment Graphics

* ----- *

Girly glitter comments from www.GirlyTags.com

Surgery ahead for President Basescu

The President of Romania Traian Basescu is to undergo a thyroide gland surgery. Presidency spokesman Valeriu Turcan announces by press release that a team of doctors is going to proceed to the surgery in the Military Hospital, Bucharest, the following days.
The surgery will not disturb the President's schedule, as it is an ordinary one the Presidents has asked to undergo. There is also mentioned that Presidency Administration is going to inform both press and public opinion regularly, every time news comes up.

A.I.
Ziua Vineri 7 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

PD to be investigated for false signatures

-- Deputy Nati Meir is to go to the National Anti-Corruption Department next Tuesday and provide details about the signature list drawn by the PD (Democrat Party) to prove support for a bill against the government.
It is to be reminded that just a few days before the parliamentary term was over, the PD, with support from the PLD (Liberal-Democrat Party), initiated a bill to overthrow the Tariceanu Cabinet. As there weren't enough adepts, the Democrats asked some independent MPs for support signatures in exchange to certain advantages. One such deputy is Nati Meir. A few days later he complained about the Democrats' double language, accusing them of bribe. More exactly, he was asking that the Prosecutor's Officer should investigate on Democrat leaders Emil Boc and Adriean Videanu for bribe. He commented: "When I signed for the bill, they proposed I should head the list of the PD branch in Tulcea for next elections. But Emil Boc took it back after a fortnight".
Presently the independent deputy announced in the Chamber of Deputies that he was leaving the PD parliamentary group. There were more MPs who claimed on the PD list there were false support signatures.

Liliana Ionescu
Ziua Vineri 7 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

CNSAS fails to check on high clergy by September 12

Because of the quorum missing in yesterday's meeting of the CNSAS (National Council for Research on the Communist Secret Service Archive), a decision was impossible to reach and therefore there was neither any verdict on some high clergymen's past. Only 6 of the 11 members of the CNSAS board were present. They others didn't attend for family reasons or because they hadn't been announced about the meeting. The CNSAS has thus failed to express clear verdicts on all the Holy Synod members by September 12, when a new Patriarch is to be elected. (...)
Dinescu points to interference
Mircea Dinescu looked disappointed after the meeting and he mentioned pressure from politicians and from the Romanian Patriarchy as well. "We can't reach decisions because some are more influenced by the phone calls they get from politicians and from Patriarchy", he commented.
According to this CNSAS member, there is no chance that one decision on a high clergyman should be reached by September 12. Still he added decisions on such records would be made later on.
The CNSAS members are to meet next Tuesday, but no decision will be reached so that it won't influence the election of the future Patriarch. The CNSAS is to check on the elected Patriarch's past in order to do away with any doubts about his personality.

Cristian Andrei
Ziua Vineri 7 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Senator Dan Voiculescu resigns

-- Senator Dan Voiculescu, a president of the PC (Conservative Party), resigned yesterday, claiming it was because of his "powerlessness to keep his promises to the electorate".
In yesterday's press conference the PC leader mentioned he wouldn't exist the stage of politics and he also added he would continue to head the Romanian Conservatives. He argued that he would be more dedicated to his party and to the preparations for the election of MEPs in Romania. He claimed his resignation had nothing to do with the National Anti Corruption Department's criminal cases against him or to the CNSAS (National Council for Research on the Communist Secret Service Archive) decision, according to which he had been a collaborator of the political police under the Communist regime.
He argued it would be "dishonest" of him to continue his activity as a MP, after failing to promote initiatives on the making of a solidarity fund for the Romanian retired and on support for the tenants of houses confiscated by the Communists. He pleaded as follows: "Please believe me that, after my short career as a MP, the praising for me would be scarce".
He announced he was resigning right after meeting with the Social-Democrats' leader Mircea Geoana yesterday morning. The Social-Democrats promised to support three of the four projects the Conservatives are promoting: the cut on the value added tax for basic food products, support for the tenants of houses confiscated under the Communist regime and the 0 tax on reinvested profit. (...)

Raluca Papadopol
Ziua Vineri 7 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

* ---- *

Girly glitter comments from www.GirlyTags.com

Electoral ecumenism

The President of Romania Traian Basescu seems to be going on with his typical populism in search for the clergy's support. He is taking the third Reunion of Christian Churches taking place in Sibiu, the European City of Culture in 2007, as an opportunity.
Yesterday morning he participated at the prayer preceding the first session of this third European Ecumenical Assembly. The first prayer attended by all the Christians these days in Sibiu had taken place Tuesday evening in the City Square, where the President had spent just a few minutes, taking the opportunity to see to his hobby: talk to the crowd. (...)
In the opening of yesterday's session the attendants kept silent for a few minutes to commemorate the recently deceased Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, a great European personality in the world of Christians. Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, a spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians all over the world, outlined the historical importance of the ongoing event in the sermon he delivered in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Sibiu last Tuesday and he congratulated the Romanian Orthodox Church, the local Church and the city.
Spiritual demagogy
In yesterday's speech President Basescu described the Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu as a token of faiths' solidarity and one more hope for unity, outlining Romania was privileged to house an event vital to the Christian Churches' common action and to Romania's responsible approach to its fundamental spiritual values.
He argued: "Today it is more necessary than ever to shape room for common reflection on the role Churches can play in our societies, in keeping with their religious missions and in order to develop interChristian and interreligious dialogue, cultivate respect for humans' dignity and for the nature the faithful take for God's creation. I knew you started in Rome and continued in Wittenberg a pilgrimage making preparations for this assembly, meant to celebrate the diversity of traditions within European Christianity. The third European Ecumenical Assembly is taking place in Sibiu, a true model of collaboration of cultures and religious cults. It is the first time a country mostly Orthodox, a country that made preparations for today's event due to the historical visit that Pope John Paul II paid here in 1999. To all of us this is a token of solidarity between faiths and renewed hope for unity".

D.E.
Ziua Joi 6 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

President Basescu accused of inappropriate view

Danish MEP Jens Peter Bonde addressed the Parliament of Europe against the President of Romania Traian Basescu, criticizing his idea to hold the national referendum on the uninominal vote system at the same time with the election of MEPs in Romania.
The MEP argues in his letter to the Conference of Presidents in the Parliament of Europe that such a decision may twist the meaning and the progress of the first election of MEPs to be held in Romania. The Conference of Presidents is a group made up of the heads of political groups in the Parliament of Europe and it is the institution deciding on the agenda.
It is to be reminded that President Basescu has recently demanded Romanian political parties to decide on the uninominal vote or he will summon a referendum to take place in November 25, the very day of the election of MEPs in Romania. But according to European recommendations, no other scrutiny should be held the day when the election of MEPs is due.
The Euro-skeptic Danish MEP, a member of the independent democrat group, wants the Parliament of Europe to express view on President Basescu's initiative in order to explain to Romania that the significance of the first election of MEPs in this country would thus be harmed.

Liliana Ionescu
Ziua Joi 6 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Hands and trick

Adriean Videanu, the Democrat mayor of Bucharest, is a failure. Bucharest is a real pell mell. The countdown left till elections is fatal to him. He isn't standing the smallest chance to prove by March 2008 that he has accomplished his missions. Traian Basescu, his guru, the man who helped him take over the City Hall and bring his male and female advisers and businessmen along, is even worse now, because he is the one in fact responsible for it. Videanu's tremendous failure can cost Basescu his second mandate as President. It would also harm the Democrat Party and the way to parliamentary elections. But to kick Videanu out cynically, which they were intending to do about a fortnight ago, is no solution, for Basescu will be blamed for it anyway. Therefore the only scenario available is a trick of the Basescu kind.
The topper has recently reached the table and the head of state has taken the bunny out of it. He has actually produced a SF idea: mess is reigning over Bucharest not because the mayor is an unskilled yesman fond of fraud, but because the system isn't good. This is how Basescu has caught two bunnies at a time. While trying to save Videanu's honor, he has accounted for his own lack of skill proved at the time when he was a general mayor of Bucharest. And therefore the main state official in charge of protecting the law has offended the law, more exactly the normative document settling Bucharest affairs (structure of districts, multiple authorities and so on), elaborated about 80 years ago. He has claimed no one can do real work here because there are too many authorities disturbing each other. And according to the boss in Cotroceni Palace, the solution would be one single man to hold all the administrative power. In such case, the great strategist would have power to do and undo things and thus rebuild Bucharest to make our dreams come true.
But if we take a closer look, the bunny taken out of the topper turns into a dragon. Not even Ceausescu, when giving directions about everything, did dare think about doing away with the districts of Bucharest. They anyway exist in the capital city of the presidential republic of France, whose Constitution Basescu has been struggling to imitate. But Paris is, was and will be divided in districts. The city authorities there and the main politicians have concluded it can be no other way. And, thank God, the City of Lights has survived. It has survived without mayors like Crin Halaicu, Victor Ciorbea, Viorel Lis, Traian Basescu or Adriean Videanu.
It is so puzzling to realize out of the blue that Bucharest can't be ruled as long as it is divided into districts, after Basescu was a mayor twice and although he is in power a third time, via his yesman. It is puzzling that he should be blaming the law. Maybe in his attempt to save some of his own honour and some of the Democrat Party's honour he will ask for some referendum on the issue.
Given these, how will the uninominal electoral campaign for the City Hall of the most important Romanian city take place ? Will it open by a denial of the system ? Or has it opened already ? Has the President of all Romanians already started his campaign for Bucharest by any chance, acting like an anti-system politician ? If so, he has committed hands. He has touched the ball with the hands, trying to fool both the arbitrator and the spectators and sneak the ball into the goal. But I'm afraid this isn't working any more. Videanu has mentioned it a lot of times that only when his mandate as general mayor of Bucharest is over the others may reach conclusions. He has specified his mandate is a "4-year one". These 4 years will soon be over. And what will there be left ? Another failure of Basescu's, one he can no longer blame on others. This works in case we ignore the fact that the President's man is a criminal, but one proved so only by the press so far. And there is no presumption of innocence.

Sorin Rosca Stanescu
Ziua Joi 6 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Pickpockets' castle

Watch your bags and pockets: while Romanian pickpockets are haunting Europe, Romania has turned into a target for foreign thieves cartels.
According to the Police archive, in 2007 thefts have been more numerous than ever, with hypermarkets as favorite places. The Police managed to catch a gang of Czech pickpockets just because they were too greedy, although it was their first action.
The thieves are informed, given accommodation and taken to the location by heads of the Romanian underground world, who are part of a very well working European cartel.
An operative group is made up of 3-5 individuals and the group spends 5 days at most in a city and 1 month at most in a country before being moved. When working abroad, Romanian pickpockets get the same treatment.
In Bucharest there take place 10 thefts every half an hour on an average. Cards are broken in just a few seconds, before the victim gets to announce the bank. When the prey is substantial, pickpockets use extreme violence even in the parking areas of supermarkets guarded by security companies. The Police have sent under cover agents to supermarkets these days. A retired pickpocket tells ZIUA: "In Bucharest there are no more than 10 people who control it. The press has reported on some, but in vain, nothing is happening." (...)

I.G.
Ziua Joi 6 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

* ---- *

Girly glitter comments from www.GirlyTags.com

Stop the diversion !

Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR), in its entirety, is the target of a concerted attack, whose precedent can only be find in the dark Stalinist epoch. The aim is that the political power confiscates the patriarchal chair, the top of the Church. The best way to do it is by manipulating the elections that are to follow. Visible and invisible forces take part in this dangerous diversion, meant to reduce even more the independence and the credibility of the Church. The National Council for Research on the Communist Secret Police Archive (CNSAS) stands forefront, probably also with a view to an ultimate self-compromising. This institution is pushed forward as a battering ram to break the heads of those persisting in the idea that the Synod itself should elect the new patriarch. And I mean a free Synod, whose votes are guided by factors outside the Church as little as possible. However, the dirty trick CNSAS is organizing today is only a smoke curtain as the true manipulators stand behind. It's about, first and foremost, the President of Romania, Traian Basescu. The secret services, which are working hard to provide real information of a compromising nature on the high clergy, and also rumours and forgeries closely follow him. And rumours circulate with a hallucinating speed among the Orthodox Christians. Secondly, parties couldn't have missed this war of dubbing the new patriarch. And parties are known to manipulate. And they have their elected members at both central and local level. Multiple pressures are put on the high clergy and on the other members of the Synod who are to vote. These pressures range from blackmail to broad or explicit threats, from direct "unmasking" actions, up to also direct actions of buying good will. And, eventually, the so-called high level talks of a persuasive type are there too. We witness one of the dirtiest tricks from after December 1989.
I am among the most consistent supporters of the man Ticu Dumitrescu. I have pleaded for a law on the unmasking the former communist secret police (Securitatea) starting January 1990. I have backed up Ticu when he has struggled for the issuing of such a piece of legislation. Finally, the initial document has been distorted in such a way in the Parliament that even Ticu Dumitrescu hasn't vindicated its paternity. I thought that if Ticu Dumitrescu comes to CNSAS, the whole hubbub that has marked the beginning of this institution was going to end, especially after the "elected ones" finally had access to the files. Actually, each of them and starting with Ticu, they have turned into commissaries. And they look just like those in Stalin's time. Together, they make up an instrument of political manipulation, i.e. of political police. To this is, for the time being, limited the so-called work of "unmasking the communist secret service as political police". It's high time I asked Mr. Ticu Dumitrescu to stop and to admit that he has fallen into a dangerous trap. He should start repairing what he has damaged and unmask the CNSAS.
It's high time now to catch the attention of the public opinion on the fact that the "unmasking" of the high clergy right about the time when the patriarch must be elected is a diversion. And that they're being called at the CNSAS seat is an abuse. And the fact that CNSAS affords to officially state that it gives sentences on some people's past is a dirt, a distortion of the aim it has been set up for. And the diversion is being built up exactly by those who have the interest of turning the Church into a tool of the political struggle. And those are the politicians themselves. Not all of them, of course, but some do, headed by the tenant in Cotroceni Palace, who gives electoral speeches in churches.
Stop the diversion against the Romanian Orthodox Church ! Catch Traian Basescu's attention on the reality that it is not the sacrificing of the independence of the Church that will guarantee him a second mandate. And tell him openly that there won't be a second mandate.

Sorin Rosca Stanescu
Ziua Miercuri 5 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

UDMR has fallen below threshold

PD (Democrat Party) is by far the leader in the top of the voting intention for the parliamentary elections, while UDMR (Democrat Union of the Magyars in Romania) has dropped below the electoral threshold by five points, according to the Political Opinion Barometer that IMAS (IMAS Marketing and Polls) drew up during 8-15 August.
PD would get 42% of the votes, if there were to be elections for the Parliament the "next Sunday", the Democrats being followed by PSD (Social-Democrat Party) - 17% and PNG (Party of the New Generation) - 13%. The survey also shows that PNL (National Liberal Party) - 12% and PRM (Greater Romania Party) - 5% could also go into the Parliament, while UDMR - 4%, PLD (Liberal Democrat Party) - 3%, PIN (National Initiative Party) - 2% and PC (Conservative Party) - 1% are placed below the electoral threshold. A percentage of 22% of the interviewed persons declared themselves undecided or said they would not vote. In top of the confidence in the main political personalities, President Traian Basescu remains on the first place with 54% positive appreciation. The head of State is followed by PNG president, George Becali (37%), PLD leader, Theodor Stolojan (28%) and the leaders of PSD and PNL - Mircea Geoana and Calin-Popescu Tariceanu - by 20% each. Emil Boc is credited by 17%, Corneliu Vadim Tudor - 15%, Cristian Diaconescu and Adrian Cioroianu - 12% each and Vasile Blaga by 11%. Dan Voiculescu (8%), Marko Bela (6%) and Ioan Talpes (4%) occupy the last three places. The former IMAS director, PSD senator Alin Teodorescu said, on Realitatea TV, that the small score UDMR recorded in August is a consequence of "the effect of Traian Basescu's long campaign in Harghita and Covasna counties". The IMAS polling has been carried out on a population sample of 1,245 individuals, representative for Romania's adult population. The margin of error is of plus/minus 2.8%.

Ovidiu Banches
Ziua Miercuri 5 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

* ---- *

Girly glitter comments from www.GirlyTags.com

Great president or small president ?

All means accepted by the Fundamental law to remove from office the head of state are legitimate since Traian Basescu hasn't met by far the obligations conferred by the Constitution, on the contrary, he has done everything possible to block the reform in Romania. However, this is politicians' business and it will be the citizens' too when they have the occasion to decide, under circumstances different from those of the referendum. If we analyze the PNL (National Liberal Party) proposition aiming at a major change of a constitutional nature relating to the president's status, we must leave aside the person Traian Basescu. The fundamental law cannot be changed on account of the fact that we like a person or not or because a person is harmful or beneficial. There are different reasons that should prevail. That is why, starting the reality we have, for establishing a limit line between presidential attributions and the Executive's, and a bad Constitution that generates, as we've seen, tensions and crises between the Palaces, we must opt without prejudices for the best structure which it should be turned into. We do not need a semi-presidential republic, that's clear. But what is it better to have ? Is it good for us to have in the future a parliamentary republic or a presidential republic ?
Any of the solutions is, for certain, better than the semi-presidential republic. That's because in any of the two options, the war of fundamental state institutions can be avoided, to their benefit and, eventually, to the citizen's benefit. The citizen's sick of quarrels, scandals, plots leading nowhere or crisis blocking the reform and delay development. So, if we talk about the reform of the political class, let's do it starting from the top.
If we are to have a presidential republic, before making an option, we might have to look carefully towards the United States, as they surely have the most functional presidential republic. How are things organized there ? The elected president of the United States is the chief of Executive as well. Therefore, if things go well, he is the one winning laurels. If things go bad, it's him again to catch it hot. You will never hear an American president cursing the Government. Never ! Things are the same the other way round: no Government would attack its president. In the most frequently met hypothesis among the Western democracies, that of a parliamentary republic, the situation is, again, relatively simple, as far as attribution delimitation is concerned. That's because in this scenario, the president has no executive attributions. Consequently, he has no right to interfere in the governing relating matters, or to comment them, from his quality of a head of state. He has a rather representative role. In a parliamentary republic, the political class installs the president and, when he becomes undesirable, the political class is again the one that removes him. This is done, as a rule, by the agency of the most important democratic institution, the Parliament.
As far as I am concerned, I opt for the formula of a parliamentary republic. That is because I do not consider Traian Basescu a dangerous individual, doing more bad that good, but simply because I'm terribly afraid of the effects the absence of a long democratic tradition might have in Romania. One's temptation, no matter who the individual is, to use power for himself and in the citizens' interest is huge and ubiquitous. Moreover, the citizen himself, illiterate in matters of politics and somehow tipsy, is tempted to label as week a Democrat president and to unconsciously throw himself into the arms of a father, perceived as a providential someone.
So, a president elected by the Parliament would be good.

Sorin Rosca Stanescu
Ziua Marti 4 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

BOR accuses CNSAS

The Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) questions the capacity of CNSAS (National Council for Research on the Communist Secret Service Archive) to give objective verdicts and accuses the campaign launched against the Orthodox clergymen. "We have witnessed during the past weeks a campaign backed up also by some members of the CNSAS College who have launched serious accusations, unproved in any way, against some passed away Orthodox clergymen, by the publication of some questionable denouncements from the ex-communist secret service archive", states the Patriarchy in a press release, as quoted by Rompres News Agency. The Patriarchy accuses this attempt of humiliating the Church and the troubling of the elections for the new Patriarch, that are to be held on September 12. Moreover, BOR appreciates that the historic context of the communist times have to be explained and made known in detail before assessing the different actions of some clergymen.

Cristian Andrei
Ziua Marti 4 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

CNSAS, treated with refuse

-- High clergy accuse the College of interference
The CNSAS (National Council for Research on the Communist Secret Service Archive) College faced yesterday the refuse of the high clergy to come to hearing, the only one who answered the request of the institution being the Archbishop of Alba, Andrei Andreicut. On the other hand, Archbishop of Suceava and Radauti, Pimen Zainea, Bishop Arges, Calinic Argatu and Bishop Arad, Timotei Seviciu, didn't honour the CNSAS request. The Metropolitan Bishop of Cluj, Alba, Crisana and Maramures, Bartolomeu Anania, informed, by a press communiqué, that hew considered the approach of the College as an interference in the internal affairs of BOR (Romanian Orthodox Church), and Metropolitan Bishop Daniel denied any collaboration with the former communist secret police.
Andreicut: I have disburdened my soul
Archbishop of Alba Andrei Andreicut came to the seat of CNSAS tomake clarifications relating to his collaboration with the communist secret police (Securitatea). (...) After the hearing, Archbishop of Alba Andrei Andreicut said he didn't have a network file, but an informer file. Moreover, he said the Securitate harassed him during the communist regime and then he offered each journalist an issue of his book, written in 2001, "Fairy-tales makers are gone". The Archbishop of Alba said that the book contains many pages of his file and it shows he didn't do political police activities. Andrei Andreicut admitted he had collaborated with Securitatea out of constraint, but he claimed he didn't harm anyone.
Bartolomeu Anania: Interference in the BOR affairs

HH Bartolomeu, Metropolitan Bishop of Cluj, Alba, Crisana and Maramures, criticized in a press release the approach of CNSAS, which he considers as interference in the Church business. HH Bartolomeu Anania said he had been surprised to receive an invitation to be heard by CNSAS, and the invitation be made at the request of the Romanian Civic Forum. "Such an invitation was addressed to other colleagues from the Holy Synod as well and it was launched about the day the Romanian Orthodox Church is to elect a new Patriarch. It bears all the signs of an inconceivable interference in the internal affairs of an autonomous institution", explained Bartolomeu Anania, according to a NewsIn release. The Metropolitan Bishop of Cluj was also disturbed by the way in which he was called to hearing, at a fixed date and hour, and said this practice reminded him the "awful times when he could be taken out of his cell anytime, during the day or at nighttime, and brought through the darkness of the black-lens glasses to be interrogated by the investigators of the Securitate".
Metropolitan Bishop Daniel denies any collaboration
The Metropolitand Bishop of Moldova and Bucovina, HH Daniel, said yesterday he had no knowledge of a file on him that might attest his collaboration with the former communist secret police. Sources in the College stated last week that the name of the Metropolitan Bishop of Moldova appeared in a minute of SIE (Foreign Intelligence Service) dated 1990, which indicates the fact that he had collaborated with Securitatea, but his file had been burnt.
HH Daniel assures, for the time being, the patriarchal lieutenancy, after the death of Patriarch Teoctist.

Cristian Andrei
Ziua Marti 4 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english